iOS 11 Launched at WWDC17

[Maura]

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Apple today showcased iOS 11, complete with some particularly impressive new iPad features, at WWDC17 in San Jose today.

“With iOS 11, we’re delivering the biggest AR platform in the world, and it’s available today for developers to begin building AR experiences using ARKit for hundreds of millions of iPhone and iPad users,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “iOS 11 gives iPad users the powerful app functionality they need to take advantage of everything iPad is capable of, and brings hundreds of new features and incredible updates to the iOS apps iPhone and iPad users enjoy every day.”

Due to launch this fall, new features include AR Experiences, a new platform that will help developers create AR experience for iOS, as well as an updated Siri, using enhanced machine learning and AI technology and on-device learning to offer more personal experiences based on your use of Safari. One example would be Siri learning topics you are interested in based on your Safari browsing, and then suggesting them when you are typing in Mail, Messages, and other apps.

Several new features have also been added to Photos, including more expressive Live Photos with Loop and Bounce effects, and more memory categories added to Photos.

Possibly one of the biggest cheers of the whole day was reserved for the announcement of person-to-person Apple Pay payments directly via Messages, which looked effortless, and also the ability to receive money to your new Apple Pay Cash account.

The revamp of the Messages stickers and apps interface is very welcome too, making it much easier to find stickers and apps.

Another great idea is the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, which detects when you’re driving and changes the display accordingly and also silences your incoming alerts and notifications.

Likewise, another very useful feature that got a lot of cheers when it was announced was lane guidance added to App Maps.

Finally, there are several exclusive iPad features in iOS 11, making it “the biggest software release ever for iPad” according to Apple. These include some very impressive multitasking features, complete with a new customizable Dock with quick access to the apps that you use the most, and the new Files app, as well as the ability to Drag and Drop files.

Here are some other key features of iOS 11:

• App Store is redesigned to make discovering apps and games easier than ever before. Through in-depth features and interviews, App Store editors will uncover the stories behind iOS developers, and the incredible apps and games they create.

• App Store for iMessage has a redesigned app drawer for more convenient access to apps and stickers, so it’s easier to decorate messages, share a song and more.

• Control Center offers more customization, enabling quick access to frequently used controls all on one page, and a new Lock Screen delivers a more convenient way to see Notifications all in one place.

• Apple Maps adds indoor maps for major airports and shopping centers around the world and lane guidance to avoid missing a turn or exit.

• Home supports more categories of accessories including AirPlay 2 speakers and more ways to automate your home with new triggers.

• AirPlay 2 offers multi-room audio enabling users to easily control speakers using Control Center, the Home app or Siri.

• Apple Music offers more ways to discover music with friends. Subscribers can create a profile so their friends can follow them, listen to playlists they’ve shared and see the music they listen to most.

• Apple News is even better at keeping readers informed and entertained with personalized top stories and suggestions from Siri, great stories curated daily by Apple News editors in the new Spotlight tab and the best videos of the day in Today View.

• One-handed keyboard mode on iPhone makes typing on the go even easier and a new QuickType keyboard on iPad delivers quick access to numbers, symbols and punctuation.

Source: Apple